The Portland daily press., 1887-12-10
SUSPICIOUS CHARACTERS
Charged with the Robbery of the
MIser at East Newport.
Two Thousand Dollars In Blood
.stained Bills In Their Pockets.
Pennington Officers Get a Clue and
Successfully Follow 1t Up.

FARMINGToN, Dec 9.--Deputy Sheriff
Alonzo Sylvester and Asher ID. Horn, of
Pennington, arrived home early this morn
ing with two men whom they arrested at
kumford Centre, Oxford county, on suspic-
ion of committing the East Newport robbery
In Peter Benefits house. The men are
now in Pennington jail and it is said that a
large amount of the stolen property was
found on their persons.
Pennington village is greatly excited over
the arrest of the two men. A steady stream
of visitors has been pouring into the Jail cor
ridors all the forenoon to get look at the
prisoners. The men absolutely refuse to
give their names but declare their innocence
of any completely in the robbery. One of
them weighs 175 pounds, and is rather short,
with dark complexion, a small moustache,
quite heavy eyebrows, quite low forehead,
height feet s inches, and about % years of
age. The other is rather tall and slim, with
reddish complexion, short cut features,
smooth face, weight 160, height 5 feet 10
inches, and age about 81. The deputy thinks
they are the men wanted.
The story of the arrest is told by the
OAhScAos ANHho AAoAdihSs eho co6SeSNhie'iA "a
the Sandy River Railroad, informed Sheriff
Sylvester yesterday that two suspicious par
ties had been seen on the east side Of the
Sandy river in the town Of Avon. They
were inquiring the way to Rumford and APP
peared anxious to find the route. The two
men were also heard from at New Portland
and. Klngfeld, asking the way to Dixfeld.
Sylvester and horn then took pair of
horses and drove to Weld. There they met
a man who had seen two fellows and talked
with them about working in the woods.
They had about two hours start of the
officers. Half way between Weld and Dix
field the trail was again struck. two men
having called at farm house and asked for
dinner in hurry. They appeared excited
and anxious to see the daily papers.
At Dixfield the officers took fresh horses
and went direct to the ferry which crosses the
Androscoggin at Rumford Centre, where
two men answering the description were
found eating supper hurriedly at Charles
KimbalPs place.
When arrested the men resisted somewhat
but had to submit. They appeared sur
prised and declared their innocence. They
said they were from Bangor and well known
in Lewiston and Portland, though they were
unable to give the names of anybody in
those cities or tell on what streets they had
lived. The prisoners were handcuffed and
brought direct to Pennington, riding all
night.
On being searched by Jailor Jewell and the
officers about $4,000 in bills were found, also
a revolver, a slung shot, the head of which
had the appearance of having been scraped
to remove stains, and bunch of keys which
the officers said would unlock any handouts
used in Maine. A pocket compass, rail
road ticket on the Lake Shore road and other
minor articles were also found. Some of the
bank bills found were smeared with blood.
Tie clothing of the men is fine and bears
the imprint of New York tailors, the over
They called for a lawyer and HI. l.. Whit
anything of public interest, the men only
conversing upon the subject of what the
subsequent proceedings would be.
One suspicious feature was when the
searching began. The jailor asked If they
had anything about their person.
.'Oh. yes" said one, "a little change and
this old pistol, that is all. !"
But as the search continued the money
mentioned was found wadded up and tucked
in different pockets about their persons, one
package alone containing $500 crowded into
a hip pocket.
A package of some kind which was seen
In the mems possession while riding is miss
ing, but the officers say they are on the
track of it. 1t seems TO be the opinion OF
people that the men are the Ben
nett burglars. Officers in Bangor have been
notified of the arrest and are expected Gin
tonight. If these men are
found to be the robbers the Pennington
officers will claim the reward of $4,000 Of
fered by Peter Bennett